The "Frumushika-Nova" winery celebrated its 20th anniversary, exporting organic wines to Japan, England, and EU countries
The Bessarabian winery "Frumushika-Nova" celebrated its 20th anniversary, transitioning from traditional homemade wine to organic viticulture and modern technological production. Located in the Odesa region near the Moldovan border, the estate produces over 50,000 bottles of wine annually and exports to Bulgaria, Estonia, England, Germany, and Japan. This was reported by Economichna Pravda, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The “Frumushika-Nova” winery, founded by the Palariu family in a remote village of Odesa region, celebrated its 20th anniversary. Over two decades, the enterprise transformed from a domestic wine-making operation into a modern organic winery with technological production and international awards.
History of Village Revival and the Origin of Winemaking
The village of Frumushika-Nova was destroyed by Soviet authorities in 1946 to create a military training ground. Local residents were relocated, and buildings demolished. Return to the land occurred only 60 years later, when the training ground ceased to exist. The Palariu family began reviving the village, preserving the Bessarabian tradition of wine-centered gatherings.
The grandfather of Vladimir Palariu, Andriy Domidovych, planted 10 hectares of vineyards and produced up to five tons of wine annually. In 2013, he passed the business to his son, leaving the keys behind and departing. Vladimir, his brother Mykhailo, and their father Oleksandr began developing the estate, starting with traditional homemade wine.
Transition to Professional Winemaking
The turning point came in 2019, when the Palarius family began collaborating with scientists from the Odesa National Technical University — Oksana Tkachenko and Nataliya Kamenyeva. Based on their recommendations, they restructured existing grape varieties: Citronnyi Magaracha, Sukholymanskyi Bilyi, Odeskyi Chornyi, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The estate transitioned to modern technologies, renewed its vineyards, and shifted to organic cultivation methods. One hectare now hosts 5,290 vines — nearly five times more than under Soviet norms. Locally adapted indigenous varieties are used, popular both in Ukraine and abroad.
Experiments: Unfiltered Wine, Orange Wines, and Concrete Eggs
One of the key experiments was the creation of unfiltered wine using the French “sur lie” method. Production of such wines was legalized in 2022, and they now constitute 10% of the portfolio. The estate also produces orange wines using the skin contact method, aligned with EU stylistic trends.
In 2026, the Palarius family submitted two wines to the Decanter World Wine Awards. One was aged for six months in a concrete egg — a wine-making vessel unique in Ukraine to only “Frumushika-Nova” and Steppe Winery from Mykolaiv region. Both products won medals, including a bronze award for Chardonnay aged in concrete.
Organic Vineyard and Future Plans
Three years ago, the estate received organic vineyard certifications. It complies with requirements to avoid herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers, using only substances listed in the Organic Standard registry. The next step is certifying the wine itself — the goal is to become Ukraine’s first certified organic wine.
Production, Export, and War Challenges
Current production volume is 50,000 bottles per year, of which 10,000 are sparkling, 10,000 red, 2,500 rosé, 2,000 orange, and the rest white. Since the start of the full-scale war, the estate expanded exports: in 2023, five foreign trade contracts were signed. Wine is delivered to Bulgaria, Estonia, England, Germany, and Japan.
The war increased logistics, fuel, and labor costs. The Palarius family notes that Ukrainian wine is more expensive than European wine due to high labor and energy costs. Despite this, they remain optimistic about the industry’s future and continue their work, grounded in tradition, science, and family values.
Wines from “Frumushika-Nova” can be purchased online, at wine festivals, or by visiting the village located 165 km from Odesa. The estate has full tourist infrastructure, and visits are best planned with a personal vehicle.
Photo: Photos provided by the winery
